Rarely do we encounter the birth of such creative restaurant as that of Dorothy & Frank's. But when…read morewe do, we're up for a big surprise. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Dorothy & Frank's in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Right across from the well known bakery, Bread Craft, in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, and in the Historic Marigold building, a new restaurant has emerged, like no other that I have ever seen before. Just as I learned of its existence, the night before, and sent the details to Yelp so they immediately created a site for this new restaurant, I found out that the following day would be their Opening Night for dinner and I quickly proceeded to make a reservation to be among the first to catch a glimpse of this very unique restaurant and taste its culinary delicacies from its right off the press menu. Dorothy & Frank's is a new two-story restaurant and bar concept, conceived from the brilliant minds of Bloom Restaurant & Wine-Bar Chef/Owner Nate Sloan and Thomas Ceddia. It features a lower-level restaurant (Dorothy) with rotisserie based American comfort food and an upstairs listening bar (Frank's Wild years). The venue officially launched around the beginning of February, opened only for lunch, and today, Thursday, February 19, 2026, it was scheduled to begin dinner service. And I had the pleasure of being the first customer to be waiting outdoors in the middle of the rain, under my umbrella, with my five o'clock reservation, when it opened its doors. Inside, the place had a nostalgic charm, with dark harwood floors, high ceilings, simple yet elegant decor, and beautiful lighting treatment. The friendly host and charming manager welcomed me at the Host's station and allowed me to take a seat at the requested table next to the window, where I could better photograph the food, the interior of the restaurant, and the dining experience. My server Molly, arrived soon after and was able very helpful in coordinating with the bartender to make me a Switchel Mocktail that came out marvelous. As appetizer I ordered 6 of their Broiled Virginia Oysters. The young gentleman who brought them to my table recognized me from dining at Sidecar, a European-style gastropub in downtown Roanoke, where he used to work. I especially liked how well the oysters were prepared with the Neuske's Bacon. This was followed with a Market Salad with Tahini Goddess dressing, which was out of this world. And as my main entrée I had the Bistec, medium-rare. A quality Sirloin Steak prepared wonderfully, with grilled onion relish, shmaltz potatoes, and aerated bearnaise. My server came by at the appropriate times to see if I needed anything and make sure my glass of water was full, which by the way, was made in France with a refined crystal that made the already perfect water taste even better. Thomas, one of the owners, also came by my table, and I was impressed with his humility, his philosophy of life, and his vision of this magnificent restaurant. For dessert, the Grand Finale of an extraordinary dining experience, I had their Beignets du Noir, and they were amazing. I highly recommend this new restaurant and look forward to returning in the near future.

It felt like they are still trying to figure out the dinner service…read more A nice spot, but might be better for lunch. There are not many options for vegetarians, their recommendation was appetizers or they can create a veggie plate, with the veggies on hand. it was a bit overpriced for a plate of veggies on hand but tasted great and fresh ingredients. Get the eclair cake, you will not be disappointed. The space looks really nice and the front windows appear to open, but on a rainy afternoon, they were not open. The acoustics had it just on the borderline of not able to hear with everyone at the table.

Stopped by Table 50 with a coworker and had a really enjoyable experience. We started with a couple…read moreof appetizers, and they were excellen and a great way to kick off the meal. The entrées were right on par with some unique dishes. One of the biggest highlights was the bar. They have a fantastic bourbon and cocktail selection, and the atmosphere around the bar was even better than the dining room. It had a lively, comfortable vibe that made the whole experience even better. Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and would definitely come back.

Since a few years ago I've been celebrating my Birthday's Eve by dining at one of my favorite…read morerestaurants. This year I happened to go to Table 50, located on Market Street in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. Table 50 is one of those fine-dining restaurants in all the sense of the word. It is known for its upscale, progressive American cuisine that uses locally sourced ingredients from the nearby farmers' market. It offers an elegant atmosphere with features like copper tables and brick walls. Exquisite food like filet mignon. And exceptional customer service. After making my reservation through the OpenTable app, I showed up the following day right on time. A young lady hostess greeted me at the Host's station and after confirming my reservation took me to my table at a corner of the restaurant. My eloquent server Trent came by soon after to give me a warm welcome and take my drink order. I asked him to see if the bartender could make me a Pina Colada Mocktail. When he brought me the Mocktail, he took my food order. As a starter, I ordered the Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops served with a Parmigiano-Reggiano & Brandy Cream Sauce. Followed by a Mixed Green House Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. And as my main course the Bienville Filet, a Certified Angus Beef 8oz Filet Mignon served with Fried Shrimps, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, and a New Orleans style parmesan cream sauce. My server then went to place the order and came back with a rectangular shape plate filled with a sliced baguette and little bowl of whipped butter. I always say that the quality of a restaurant's bread and water is an indication of the quality of its cuisine. My server did an exceptional job at bringing out all my items at the proper pace. And all was amazingly delicious. For the Grand Finale dessert, I asked for the Chocolate Mousse Torte. This is one of my favorites desserts out of all the restaurants around. My server brought it out on.a white plate with the words Happy Birthday written with a chocolate dip. It was delicious, even though this year they didn't include a candle on top. As if this wasn't enough, after paying and going to the restroom to wash my hands, as I was headed towards the door, my server runs by me and opens the door, thanking me for my visit on this special occasion and wishing that I come back soon. What a way to end an outstanding dining experience!

Great service by Grant our waiter Wine was very good as was…read morefood Just solid meal & service and very casual

We can't say enough of this place. We had a wonderful visit for Sunday brunch. Ty (bartender and…read morehost) was excellent and very friendly. This was our first time here celebrating our son's birthday. I got the chicken biscuit which was excellent. The chicken and waffles were really good to. This really could be for two people. The drinks were excellent. We will definitely come back to try their lunch/dinner menu.

Relied on Yelp for restaurants and decided on Mac & Bobs. Popular local place and Sam took good…read morecare of us. We beat the college crowd getting there before 6PM. My Caesar salad was very good as was my chicken parm. My wife opted for Tai chicken bowl( nice little kick). Both portions were good sized. Plenty of alcohol options so we choice beers and wine with our entrees. Going forward, we shall make this a regular stop on our way North.

Place is cute inside, it's spacey and there's a dining area + a bar area. It is incredibly loud if…read moreyou go past 7pm so be mindful of that (lots of college kids including myself + friend groups watching the games). It also gets busy quick! If there's one thing this place can't mess up it's some chicken tenders. They are a staple here. I think they are ridiculously priced, but they are also ridiculously good. The honey mustard is a must with them. I have not been really impressed by the other menu items I've tried, I've gotten a calzone in the past and the fish and chips and they were both average. Service is always 50/50, either someone who is super attentive or someone who will ignore you and never refill your glass for the majority of the time you're there. Overall this place is kind of average, it's $$ for what it is but it's fun with friends. 100% recommend those tenders though.

Alexander's is located in the heart of downtown Roanoke. For my purposes I could not have asked…read morefor a better location. I had inquired with the restaurant a month or so in advance of my visit (I was concerned about the dress code) and they were spot on. I wore jeans and a buton down and was quite comfortable (and not out of place). It's a very nice restaurant, but it's certainly not "stuffy." Service was excellent. Food was phenomenal. Dinner started with some nice bread (and really good butter), and a salad came with my lamb ragu. It was all really good. The lamb was super rich and very flavorful. My only suggestion would be to serve the ragu over the polenta, and to add more vegetables. As it was, the dinner was "just enough;" I wasn't stuffed but I wasn's hungry, either. Really good dinner!

There are times when one encounters very special restaurants that can only be described as…read more"priceless." And every time one returns to dine there, it only serves to reinforce the perfect attachment that one has acquired from the very first time they dined there and had the pleasure of enjoying an extraordinary fine dining experience. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Alexander's, in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. From the moment I arrived and walked through their door, I was greeted in such a way, by none other than Bjorn, the Dining Room Manager himself, that made me feel appreciated and immediately made me feel at home. Neither the coldness of the weather nor the accumulated snow could hinder me from my decision to dine here this evening. I was the first one to arrive after they opened their doors. Since the streets were still icy and filled with snow, I left my Lexus at home and took a Lyft to the restaurant, which was not far from my neighborhood, the Historic Old Southwest. Since it was a slow night due to the weather, the Dining Room Manager himself doubled as my server for the evening. To drink, we discussed my flavor liking for a Mocktail, and he came up with a special one, that ended up tasting amazing. To dine, I started with the Deconstructed cajunese california roll appetizer. It was amazingly delicious! Then I had a Salad vinaigrette, which was included with every entrée, and a French Baguette with a cube of butter. The baguette slices with butter were so fresh, soft in the inside and crispy on the outside, that they confirmed my view that the quality of a restaurant's bread and butter is a reflection of the quality of the restaurant and its cuisine. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. As my main entrée, I had the Grilled filet of beef, sauce marchand de vin, cooked medium-rare. The filet was cooked to perfection, just as ordered, so tender, juicy, and flavorful. It was a culinary masterpiece from Chef and General Manager, Boni M. Webb, who graciously came out to greet me, and gave me an opportunity to personally celebrate her magnificent cuisine. She reminded me of my Japanese student who obtained the best grade in my Business class at the university where I taught. She was very humble and kind. As the Grand Finale dessert, on the advice of my server and general manager, I ordered their Glace au chocolat. It was wonderful. What an outstanding dining experience I once again had in this outstanding restaurant with a unique combination of exceptional food, atmosphere, and heartfelt service. I highly recommend it, and can't wait to return.

Rochelle gave great service, food was delicious! Pizza smelled delicious, but we didn't get to…read moretry it. I can definitely recommend the catfish though!

We were longtime fans and frequented the previous restaurant at this spot lots and lots. It is very…read moredifferent so I think you just have to go in knowing that. It must be fairly popular, as they have an extensive menu, but for me it's a solid three stars. The photos speak for themselves in a lot of ways. I can't help but think with a little more attention to detail, and possibly being able to do that with a smaller menu, things would improve. The waitress told us they make everything in house and while that may be true for some things like dressings etc. I think that's a stretch. The fish with the fish and chips is certainly not fresh fish prepared on site, The portions for the meatloaf and barbecue plate were small in my opinion for a dinner portion, and the sauce I received with the chicken gnocchi special was not a cream sauce. I realize it sounds like I'm having a go at the restaurant, but I'm not. I would equate our meal with a diner type experience and there is certainly a place for that in the restaurant world. I miss the farm to table vibe though so while we probably will get back there at some point to try some other things but perhaps not rushing to do so.

When I first reviewed this Downtown Roanoke Restaurant, I focused on their drinks and food. But…read morethis time around I couldn't help it to discover why this place is the center of Roanoke's night life. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. I arrived on a Thursday evening with a 6:15pm reservation which I'm glad I had made because later I found out that this place gets to be a full house on Thursdays. A young lady host greeted and welcomed me at the Host's station as soon as I arrived. She checked my reservation and had my table all ready for me. Located in the middle of this very popular Restaurant Bar, gave me a nice view of the entire place, and with a light high above I had a perfect lighting to photograph my drink and food as part of my review of the place. My server Jillian arrived soon after I was seated. She had a wonderful personality and welcomed me with a friendly smile and very pleasant attitude. After answering me some questions about their Mocktails, I ended up ordering their Raspberry Burro. For dinner I ordered their BBQ Bacon Chicken Kababs with a side of their special fries and a salad. While I was waiting for my food to arrive I observed the place quickly filling up and I found out that tonight was Music Bingo and Live Music at 9:30pm with no cover charge. It brought me back to my college days in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the night life was a thing to look forward to. Suddenly I discovered the key of Martin's popularity and the important role it plays in contributing to making the City of Roanoke a Star City indeed. I enjoyed my drink and the Chicken Kababs with the side of special fries were amazingly delicious, as well as the salad. They have a good variety of quality items on their menu and their chefs amazingly deliver. I invite you to read my first review where I celebrate their Cuban Sandwich and Slaw, and view my photographs that accompany my review. What a night. Besides the food, I enjoyed playing the Music Bingo, which one of the card titles was The 1970's. One of the best years of my life, when I attended High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and College in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that time I also won a Saltwater Fishing Tournament at the young age of 17 by catching a 405 pound Blue Marlin off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. It was the best of times for me. My server Jillian provided exceptional customer service, checking on me at the appropriate times. For dessert I ordered their Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, and it was so good, I can't wait to return to have it again. What an extraordinary dining experience I had that night. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar for when you feel like having a good time, alone or with family and good friends. I promise you will be able to sabor what a Five Star review is all about, and experience for yourselves why Martin's is one of the City of Roanoke's most precious gems.

I was told to check this place out while I was in town. When I arrived they had a trivia contest…read moregoing on, I didn't participate but sounded like fun. The service was good. Sat at the bar and had a burger which was pretty good.

There are restaurants that you discover out of nowhere, just to become unforgettable. Ones that you…read moreused to drive pass them without realizing what you were missing. Until that one day that you decided to stop, and explore a whole new culinary world. After having been selected as number 4 of the Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at the Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Coach & Four Restaurant, in Roanoke Virginia is a perfect example. At first it was just a large colonial house turned restaurant on Williamson Road in Roanoke, Virginia. But once I decided to stop and explore it, it has become one of my favorite restaurants in Roanoke, Virginia. Its uniqueness lies not only in its colonial atmosphere and in its classic American cuisine, but primarily in its amazing staff that from the time you walk in begin to make your fine-dining experience one that you'll always remember and cherish dearly. Their refined behavior creates a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere that create unforgettable dining experiences. Today, after having gone through one of the worst snow and ice storms in years, I decided to not allow the icy roads to hold me back, and requested a Lyft to take me there for dinner. As soon as I arrived, the friendly host came out to greet me and take me to a table of my choice. My server from the first time I dined there, happened to recognize me and took me to the booth where I had dined the first time I ever dined there. We discussed a Mocktail for me to drink and she came back with an amazing drink, and a small meatball as an "amuse-bouche," designed to prepare ones palate for the meal. After studying the restaurant's extensive menu, I ordered their Bacon Wrapped Scallops as appetizer. For my main entrée I ordered the Prime Rib Combination that consisted of a generous portion of roasted prime rib served with a delicious lobster tail. For the two sides that came with my main entree, I had their famous tossed salad with their in-house made blue cheese dressing and a loaded baked potato. The scallops were not so big in size but big in flavor and texture. The salad was amazing, as always. The main entrée looked well at first, but when I cut into the prime rib it was too well done to be able to appreciate the flavor of the meat. But my server came by, as promised, to see if the prime rib was cooked to my satisfaction, and when I told her it was too well done for my original request of medium-rare, she gracefully apologized and took it back. Returning shortly with another piece of prime rib more to my liking. For dessert I had a slice of Pecan Pie a la mode, which by the way was amazingly delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant for one of the best fine-dining experiences of your life. And am looking forward to returning and ordering ahead of time their Baked Alaska to have for dessert.

As we were leaving, a man with a Trump hat tried to start a fight with another table telling them…read moreto meet him at the bar down the road. They appeared to be Senior Citizens and one had handicap issues, and the funny part was, I don't think they even heard him, even though he was yelling. What was a decent meal turned into an uneasy situation.